americaWinter 2018 | A benefit of membershipletter in the Museum of Danish America
How the events of 1918 shaped a Danish-American family. inside More stories of war and peace contents
enDinGs14 & beGinninGs
resistinG23 in WWii
32biKinG ViKinGs
38WArtime memories
04 Director’s corner 23 occupation and 41 news in brief resistance 06 survey results 27 exhibits 42 new members and old friends 08 nordic Dc 28 collection connection 10-Year interns 11 events calendar 30 cAp program 46
12 meeting in elk horn 32 bicycle tour 48 holiday craft
14 Across oceans, 38 Wartime tales Across time, Across Generations
On the COVer America Letter Winter 2018, No. 3 John and Meta Nielsen suff ered extraordinary Published three times annually by the Museum of Danish America hardships before fi nding each other and building 2212 Washington Street, Elk Horn, Iowa 51531 their family. Read about it, beginning on page 14. 712.764.7001, 800.759.9192, Fax 712.764.7002 danishmuseum.org | [email protected]
2 staff & interns
Executive Director Building & Grounds Manager Administrative Assistant Rasmus Thøgersen, M.L.I.S. Tim Fredericksen Terri Amaral E: rasmus.thoegersen E: tim.fredericksen E: terri.amaral
Administrative Manager Albert Ravenholt Curator of Genealogy Center Manager Terri Johnson Danish-American Culture Kara McKeever, M.F.A. E: terri.johnson Tova Brandt, M.A. E: kara.mckeever E: tova.brandt Development Manager Genealogy Assistant Deb Christensen Larsen Curator of Collections Wanda Sornson, M.S. E: deb.larsen & Registrar E: wanda.sornson Angela Stanford, M.A. Communications Specialist, E: angela.stanford Executive Director Emeritus America Letter Editor John Mark Nielsen, Ph.D. Nicky Christensen Archival Collections Manager E: johnmark.nielsen E: nicky.christensen Cheyenne Jansdatter, m.l.i.s. E: cjansdatter Weekend Staff Accounting Manager Rochelle Bruns Jennifer Winters Design Store Manager Beth Rasmussen E: jennifer.winters Nan Dreher Rodger Rasmussen E: nan.dreher Interns Christine Jensen Camilla Stagis
why “america letter?” Letters that were written by immigrants to family and friends back in Denmark are called “America letters” by historians. These letters are often given credit for influencing people to come to America, because they were full of details of how good life was here. We call our magazine America Letter because we also want to tell the good news about the museum and encourage people to join us!
To Contact StaffUse the prefix for the staff member shown after E:, followed by @danishmuseum.org.
America Letter 3 director’s corner
Dear members and friends, One of my fondest memories was In your hands you hold the visiting with two Danish veterans America Letter, itself a testament After many unforgettable from the Wounded Warriors to the dedication and great moments with the Museum of organization who attended taste of our Communications Danish America, I have chosen our opening in Elk Horn. They Specialist, Nicky Christensen, to resign from my position as its received a warm welcome in as well as a physical reminder executive director. I have learned our community, and, during a that membership to the Museum an incredible amount about the reception, former museum board of Danish America is a premium ongoing influence of Denmark in member Harold Jensen presented package―even for those of you America, and I would not trade them with an American flag. To us, unable visit us in Elk Horn. Nicky this wonderful experience for it was the ideal way to celebrate has significantly grown our social anything. Ultimately, however, I’ve the long-standing, unbroken media presence and entertains us found myself missing the library diplomatic relationship between all with her witty and informative profession that I was trained for, Denmark and the U.S. and to posts. and that I now look forward to honor those who served―and transitioning back into. sacrificed―for the values our Another top-notch publication is countries share. our new catalog that you should I am very proud of having had the have recently received in the chance to serve this museum. Last year, we achieved mail. Thanks to our Design Store
accreditation by the American Manager, Nan Dreher, our Design On a more festive note: Danes Alliance of Museums. This was a Store is the ideal place to do your are not known for excessive team effort led by our Curator of Christmas shopping―with our bragging, but, having obtained Collections and Registrar, Angela online store at danishmuseum.org my U.S. citizenship recently, I Stanford. Angela did such a good being a close second. feel like I have earned the formal job that the American Alliance of credentials to brag a bit about our Museums subsequently asked her Thanks to a generous donation staff and the two years I have had to become a reviewer herself. by former board member Dennis the pleasure of working with them. Andersen, we now own our Angela also procured a grant Genealogy Center on Main Street Our Albert Ravenholt Curator of that allowed us to hire Cheyenne in Elk Horn. The Genealogy Danish-American Culture, Tova Jansdatter as our Archival Center Manager, Kara McKeever, Brandt, continues to excel as Collections Manager. Cheyenne and Genealogy Assistant Wanda a curator, educator, and grant is doing important work Sornson make great ancestral writer. She did an excellent job consolidating our archives, and detectives, connecting our updating our core exhibit last year we hope to secure another grant members to their heritage, and to encompass a broader narrative, so that she can begin to process they have an endless supply adding more personal immigrant the comprehensive Danish of great and touching personal stories and faces to our walls, Sisterhood Collection, of which stories from Danish immigrants. If and she recently ensured that our we were granted stewardship in you want to learn more about your museum became an Iowa Cultural 2016. own Danish-American roots, get Leadership Partner. Her recent in touch and get started. exhibit in our Kramme Gallery, Denmark — America’s Smallest and Biggest Ally, received much positive feedback.
By Rasmus Thøgersen
4 Museum of Danish America Behind the scenes, down in the Danish cultural event―be it with As you will read in Tova’s machine room, our bookkeeper, traveling exhibits, information, or survey summary, the continuing Jenni Winters, and Facilities our personal presence. We always preservation of our heritage is Manager, Tim Frederiksen, put in love the invitation. of critical importance to our the extra effort every time to make members. To me, this museum, sure that all the numbers add up On the topic of parties and along with its collections and and that everything is running being grateful for the hosts: outreach, will always instill a smoothly and looking great. (If elsewhere in this America sense of togetherness and you ever ask Tim about the Great Letter, you can read more about belonging. This is why I, like all Sewage Pump Debacle of 2018, an evening I was honored to of you, will continue to be an he may give you a tired look, but co-host at the Embassy of advocate and cheerleader for the he should be proud of how well he Denmark in Washington, D.C. museum and its mission wherever handled it!) with His Excellency Lars G. I go. It has been an honor - and a Lose, Ambassador. The event lot of fun. Finally, I have to mention was an indication of where our Administrative Manager Terri museum is going. Our wonderful None of what has been built or Johnson and Development facility in Iowa is meant to be accomplished would have been Manager Deb Christensen Larsen. the permanent repository of possible without your ongoing They do so much for us that it was our material culture and our support and trust in our museum. hard to choose what to highlight, collections, while our exhibits, I want to thank you for that, not but, in the end, I would like to staff, and board members are just as the executive director, frame their contributions in the nimble and flexible. Being the but as a Danish American who is context of parties. Here is what national museum means more proud of his roots. you need to know about these than simply collecting objects two: Terri is the one orchestrating from across the country; it I will leave you with yet another all our great parties in Elk Horn means being present nationally, thing I am grateful for: in my and around the country; she has and I can hardly think of a more extensive travels to visit all of you, the logistics down to a science prestigious location for us to I have enjoyed more open-faced for board meetings, Tivoli Fest, be than the embassy. With the sandwiches, frikadeller, akvavit volunteer appreciation, Sankt impressive turnout we enjoyed, I and æbleskiver than I ever had in Hans Aften, and more. am hopeful that we will be able to Denmark. Everywhere the staff do something similar again in the goes to represent the museum, Deb, on the other hand, is the future. we are met with a friendliness that one who attends other people’s has been a delight to experience. parties. In her job as Development As a Dane traveling to meet other Manager, she is a key part Danes, it’s nothing but hygge from of our relationships with the coast to coast. Thank you for that! Rebild National Park Society and the many Brotherhood and Alt godt Sisterhood lodges she frequents, Rasmus Thøgersen among other groups. She turns æbleskiver with the best of them. You are very encouraged to reach out to us and learn more about how we can help enhance your
An executive director search committee has been formed under the direction of board president Beth Bro-Roof. For details of the position requirements, visit www.danishmuseum.org/ employment/executive-director
America Letter 5 we asked, and you answered 2018 AUDIENCE SURVEY
Thank you! Earlier this spring What did we learn? • There is a strong we asked for your help with an consensus that the audience survey, so that we First of all, we learned that our museum “meets the could learn more about museum audience is dedicated. This survey needs of the community members, non-members, took an average of 12 minutes to of Elk Horn” and “meets neighbors, visitors, and anyone complete, and most people who the needs of the national else with a connection to the started the survey stuck it out to community of Danish Museum of Danish America. We the end. Well done! America.” heard from over 1,100 people - a Notable data – things we knew, wonderful response! We know • Less than 25% but now have numbers to there were a lot of questions, but typically visit a museum describe: we try to make the most of these accompanied by children or grandchildren. surveys so that we don’t bug you • Less than 25% of our too often. audience visits the • Even among our museum at least once a Who did we reach? audience, there is year. Many people who The survey was distributed confusion between support the museum have online through the museum’s the Museum of Danish never visited in person. E-newsletter and social media, America and the Danish Windmill. Only 37% generating a strong response from • Our audience identifies correctly responded that both members and non-members. preservation and the Danish Windmill is In addition, paper versions of interpretation (sharing NOT managed by the the survey were mailed to all stories) as both the museum. 63% thought members for whom the museum museum’s top strengths that it was or were unsure. had no email address on file, and and the aspects of the a number of lapsed members with museum most important • Our complete audience no email addresses. Overall, 55% to them, personally. is slightly younger than were current members and 45% our membership, but were not members. • Among membership not by much. 75% of benefits, “supporting respondents are 60 the museum’s mission” years old or above. ranks on top with over 49% are 70+. Only 8% 67% selecting it as “very of respondents have a important.” household with children under 18.
By Tova Brandt
6 Museum of Danish America Surprises – things that made us What do we do with this data? With members in nearly all 50 feel good, or say “wow!” states and visitors from around The museum is always looking the world, the museum’s audience • Among those who have for the best way to connect with is diverse and dispersed. We aim visited in person, 58% people all across the country, to provide a welcoming, engaging selected “completely within the resources of time, experience for everyone, satisfied” to describe their staff, and finances available to regardless of age or background. visit, with another 35% us. The results of this survey help A comprehensive survey like this “quite satisfied.” us evaluate where we are doing one helps us better understand well and how we might improve in how people interact with the • When provided with a list efficiency and effectiveness. We museum, either in person or from of 30 words/phases and shared the results of this survey a distance. asked to select three that with the Museum Assessment describe the museum, Program and two peer reviewers over 60% selected who visited the museum in July; “Educational.” The next their recommendations will highest selections were help inform the museum’s next “Valuable” (27%) and Strategic Plan. “Professional” (26%).
We have a tiny house but no windmill.
America Letter 7 something new, something nordic
On October 30, we tried Our evening began at the nearby You will hear more about New something our museum has Phillips Collection, where our Nordic Cuisine in future issues never done before. After months guests were treated to a private of the America Letter. For now, of planning, great Danes from all tour of the Nordic Impressions you simply need to know that this over the country descended on exhibit by Chief Curator Klaus exhibit will be about more than Washington, D.C. to participate in Ottmann. We were then bused just food – that it will appeal to a benefit dinner for our next big to the Embassy for a cocktail our loyal audiences and potential exhibit, New Nordic Cuisine, at before enjoying a violin and piano new members alike, and that it the residence of the Ambassador concert by Hasse Borup and is more ambitious in scope than of Denmark to the United States, Andrew Staupe. They performed any exhibit we have created His Excellency Lars G. Lose. beautiful interpretations of works before – which is why we’ve been by the Danish composer Carl experimenting with new ways to Nielsen. The following Nordic- find the funds to make it happen. inspired dinner was prepared by the renowned chef Jens Fisker. After remarks, we were free to mingle, enjoy the fantastic setting, and discuss how we intend to make our next exhibit into a hit.
01
02 043 04
By 01. Board president Beth Bro-Roof and John Roof of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the Phillips Collection tour of Rasmus “Nordic Impressions” exhibit in Washington, D.C. 02. Lowell and Marilyn Kramme of Des Moines, Iowa Thøgersen 03. Anders Sand, left, and Peder Hansen 04. Annemarie Sawkins, Honorary Danish Consul for Wisconsin, and pianist Andrew Staupe at the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C.
8 Museum of Danish America With this event, our museum I am happy to report that we were We are so grateful to His wanted to accomplish two things. very successful on both fronts. Excellency Lars G. Lose, First, we wanted to have an We had initially hoped that 40 Ambassador of Denmark to impressive turnout at the embassy of our friends would make the the United States, and to Ms. to show “official Denmark” how trip, but, in the end, 78 people Ulla Ronberg for agreeing to dedicated our friends can be in attended, and the invitees have, host our event and to the staff their support. That we can pull-off as of December 1, either donated at the embassy for making it something like this shows that we or pledged $150,000 towards the an enjoyable, impressive, and are serious about being national exhibit! smooth experience. Our own in scope, and I cannot think of a parties here in Elk Horn are better way for us to be present Being such a success, we – obviously - the best Danish- and visible than by attending consider this an inaugural event American celebrations out there, an event at the Ambassador’s and hope to dream up more but a dinner at the Ambassador’s residence. Second, we naturally projects in the future that the private residence is a close hoped that attendance at the official Danish representation second. event would inspire financial in America will be willing to get support of the exhibit. behind and support in a similar way.
06
05
07 08
05. Royal portraits stand on the Yamaha grand piano in the music room at the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C. 06. MoDA board member Randy Ruggaard is interviewed by embassy press interns Julie Dahlgren Korr, left, and Pernille Schultz Kjær after dinner for MoDA’s “New Nordic Cuisine” project. 07. Laura, David, and Polly Hendee pose outside the Embassy. 08. From left, Embassy staff member Lone Hjortbak Kanaskie, Belgian Embassy Chef Dries Molkens, Danish Embassy Chef Jens Fisker, and Ambassador Lars G. Lose.
America Letter 9 If you want to learn more about New Nordic Cuisine and how you can support it, visit our website at www.danishmuseum.org/ nordic-cuisine/ or get in touch with our Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish-American Culture, Tova Brandt.
10
09
11 12
13
14
09. MoDA board member Randy Ruggaard, left, and Rasmus Thøgersen 10. MoDA board members Anders Sand, left, and Randy Ruggaard read about Swedish painter Nils Dardel’s 1918 oil “The Dying Dandy’’ at the “Nordic Impressions” exhibit 11. Jens Fisker, executive chef for Danish ambassador Lars Lose, in his kitchen. 12. Tova Brandt describes MoDA’s “New Nordic Cuisine” project 13. Dessert 14. MoDA board members Peder Hansen of Omaha, left, and Randy Ruggaard of Hudson, Ohio, right.
10 Museum of Danish America events calendar
PERFORMANCE: BROWN BAG LUNCH MUSEUM “Angels and PROGRAMS Troublemakers” All programs begin at 12 noon VISITOR HOURS Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm April 6 and are free to the public. Bring Saturday 10 am – 5 pm Professional storyteller Pippa a lunch to enjoy! Beverages Sunday Noon – 5 pm White presents the voices of provided. those who advocated for social Business hours are reform. “The Danish Solution” March 21 Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm PIANO RECITAL: Victor Documentary film about the rescue of Danish Jews in 1943 GENEALOGY CENTER Borge Legacy Awards 4210 Main Street, PO Box 249 April 27 “Treasures of Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm Enjoy classical piano music Saturdays by appointment only performed by the talented winners the archives” of the Victor Borge Legacy April 11 Research assistance appointments Awards. By Cheyenne Jansdatter welcomed to 712.764.7008.
LECTURE: Victorian “The History of Childhood in the BEDSTEMOR’S HOUSE Childhood in Popular 2105 College Street Music Rural Midwest” Memorial Day – Labor Day May 25 May 16 1 pm – 4 pm Social historian Michael Lasser By Pamela Riney-Kehrberg explores how the Victorian era ADMISSION viewed childhood, using popular Museum members FREE songs to illustrate American with membership card culture of the time. Non-member Adults $5 Children (ages 8-17) $2 TIVOLI FEST May 25-26 Price includes one-day admission Elk Horn, IA to Jens Dixen House, Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, Genealogy MIDSUMMER Center, and Bedstemor’s House. June 22 Our annual celebration of All facilities are closed on New Sankt Hans Aften (Danish-style Years, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Midsummer) will be extra tasty as Christmas. we open the new exhibition “New Nordic Cuisine.”
America Letter 11 board of directors meet in elk horn October 17-20, 2018
This past October board meeting As we welcomed seven new was even busier than usual with board members, we also said EXECUTIVE MEMBERS the addition of a public event farewell and thank you to our President Beth Bro-Roof, Cedar Rapids, IA on the Wednesday preceding “Magnificent Seven” – Cindy Vice President Peder Hansen, Omaha, the official start of meetings. Larsen Adams (Littleton, CO), Tim NE The museum was filled with a Burchill (Jamestown, ND), Anna Secretary Carolyn Larson, St. Paul, MN standing-room-only crowd of Thomsen Holliday (Houston, TX), Treasurer Karen Suchomel, over 100 for the showing of Garey Knudsen (Hutchinson, West Branch, IA the documentary, “The Danish MN), Dagmar Muthamia (Long BOARD MEMBERS Solution” with a reception Beach, CA), and Linda Steffensen Anders Sand, Kansas City, MO following. Filmmaker Karen (Hoffman Estates, IL); each served Bente Ellis, San Jose, CA Cantor was on-hand for a Q & two consecutive three-year Bruce Bro, Phoenix, AZ A session as well. Thanks to terms. We are grateful for their Carl Steffensen, Houston, TX museum member Gracie Lernø contributions and years of service Carol Bassoni, Gilroy, CA for sponsoring this event in honor to our beloved museum. Carol Svendsen, Denver, CO of her late husband and former Connie Hanson, Glendora, CA Craig Molgaard, Little Rock, AR board member, Bent. David Esbeck, San Diego, CA David Hendee, Northfield, MN I think the highlight of all the Eric Olesen, Racine, WI events was a dinner and a concert Gerry Henningsen, Monument, CO by Grammy-Award-winning jazz Glenn Henriksen, Armstrong, IA violinist Mads Tolling and Danish Karen Nielsen, Overland Park, KS guitarist, Jacob Fischer. The Lars Matthiesen, Edmonds, WA Kimballton Town Hall was filled Marnie Jensen, Nebraska City, NE to capacity for this extraordinary Merlyn Knudsen, Elk Horn, IA Peter West, Denver, CO performance, sponsored by Randy Ruggaard, Hudson, OH Lynette Rasmussen, Honorary Toni McLeod, Mesa, AZ Consul, Kingdom of Denmark, Des Moines, Iowa. EX-OFFICIO Dennis Larson, Decorah, IA John Mark Nielsen, Blair, NE Kai Nyby, LaPorte, IN Nils Jensen, Portland, OR
By If you would like to learn more about becoming a member of the board of directors, Terri please contact us at the museum. Johnson
12 Museum of Danish America Photos from Elk Horn and Kimballton, IA, by David Hendee, except above.
America Letter 13 1918: the end of the “war to end all wars” and the story of a family yet to be
In October 1918, my grandfather But to begin, my grandfather, In the spring of 1914, shortly was fighting in France. That same Johannes (John) Nielsen was born before his 20th birthday, Johannes month in southern Minnesota, on a farm in Denmark on July 21, left Denmark, never to return. my grandmother married the 1894 to Ane Marie Olesen and His destination was southern older son of the neighboring farm Niels Nørgaard Nielsen. (Only after Minnesota, where his mother’s family. As 1918 drew to a close, service in WWI did he change his older sister, Maren, lived with her dramatic events would change name from Johannes to John.) He husband, Peter Fredericksen. both their lives and shape our was baptized in Hee, a small town The couple farmed near Windom, family’s history. north of Ringkøbing on the west Minnesota. Here my grandfather coast of the Jutland peninsula. had cousins, and here he planned He had an older brother, Niels, to find work on neighboring born in 1885, and would have two farms. He was also following his sisters, Magdalene and Marie, older brother, Niels, who had born in 1898 and 1903. immigrated several years before my grandfather but had settled in Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a carpenter and later a homebuilder.
01
By 01. Family home The Nielsen Family in front of their farm on the west coast of John Mark Denmark circa 1908. Johannes’ older brother had already immigrated to America. Nielsen
14 Museum of Danish America Arriving in Windom, the county Her father, Heinrich, had Here my grandmother, along seat of Cottonwood County, immigrated in 1884 to an area with her sisters, attended the Johannes quickly found work. west of Chicago, and her mother, Lutheran parochial school located His employer was a farmer by Augusta, followed in 1885. They in Rutland Township that was the name of Manley Harper who were both from the German duchy established by local German lived in nearby Bingham Lake. of Pomerania on the southern Lutherans in 1897. The pastor was Here Johannes settled into the shores of the Baltic Sea and the teacher, and instruction was rhythms of farm life. However, by northeast of Berlin, an area now in German. As was the custom the autumn of 1914, the Europe within modern-day Poland. On for many Lutheran farm families, my grandfather left was at war. Thanksgiving Day 1885, they were formal schooling ended following The assassination of Archduke married and settled on a farm near confirmation. My grandmother Franz Ferdinand of Austria on Elk Grove in Cook County. In 1896 and her sisters worked as “hired June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, then Heinrich and Augusta followed girls” on neighboring farms, but a part of the Austro-Hungarian his brother, Ferdinand, to Martin they also helped out on the family Empire, set in motion forces County, where they purchased a farm. When teased that he had no that would ultimately drag the farm for $27 per acre. sons, their father is said to have United States into what President responded that with this good Woodrow Wilson would label the help, he didn’t need sons. “war to end all wars.” (Though the phrase is commonly associated with President Woodrow Wilson, who used it once, it was inspired by the title of a book by the British writer H.G. Wells that was published in 1914 and titled The War That Will End War. H.G. Wells is best known in the United States for his novel War of Worlds that Orson Welles adapted as a radio play and caused a panic in the United States when it was aired in 1938.)
My grandmother’s story is also one of immigration, though she was the daughter of German immigrants. Meta Frieda Helena Augusta Wolter, my grandmother, was born on June 15, 1898 on the family farm in rural Martin County, Minnesota, east of Northrup, and baptized at St. James’ Lutheran Church, then located in the country. She was the sixth of eight daughters born to Heinrich Johann Hermann Wolter and Augusta Fredrickka Wilhemina Treichel and the first to be born in Minnesota. 02
02. Sisters Heinrich and Augusta Wolter and their seven surviving daughters (the oldest died while they lived in Illinois). My grandmother, Meta, stands between her mother and father.
Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations 15 One of the Wolter’s neighbors 1917 saw the United States the U.S. government released were the Kaedings, German becoming increasingly involved the text of what is known as Lutheran immigrants who had four with the war in Europe. Ever since the Zimmermann Telegram. In children – Arthur, Elsie, Ella, and the sinking of the Lusitania by a it, Germany offered to give the Hugo. Ella Kaeding was the same German U-boat in 1915, when American Southwest back to age as my grandmother, and they 128 Americans lost their lives, Mexico if Mexico would declare became close friends. Many of my there was increasing pressure war on the United States. This grandmother’s childhood stories for the United States to enter the so incensed American popular revolved around the fun times the war on the side of Great Britain opinion that Congress, on April Wolter and Kaeding children had and France. On March 1, 1917, 6, 1917, heeding President playing together. It was also not Wilson’s request, declared war on unusual that she should fall in love Germany. with Ella’s older brother, Arthur, who was six years older than she. Entrance into what was then known as “The Great War” created challenges for German- Americans. One-third of the American population in 1917 was foreign-born or the children of immigrants, with German- Americans making up the largest segment of this population. This inspired fears of disloyalty among other Americans and led to the creation of the Committee on Public Information on April 13, 1917. The committee’s mission was to inspire loyalty and rally American support for the war effort. Inevitably, questioning the loyalty of foreign-born residents was a result, with individuals under suspicion required to publicly state or sign oaths of loyalty. My great-grandfather, Heinrich Wolter, who had served in the Prussian Army as a conscript before immigrating, was required to sign a loyalty statement in Mankato, Minnesota.
03
03. Induction photo My grandfather, Johannes Nielsen’s induction photograph on February 3, 1918 at Camp Green, North Carolina.
16 Museum of Danish America On June 5, 1917, the Selective By early April 1918 the Red Company. With the Russian Service Act was passed, requiring Diamond Division had been Revolution of 1917 and the fall all men between the ages of 21 brought up to full strength (991 of Czarist Russia, the ship had and 31 to register for the draft, officers and 27,114 soldiers), been requisitioned as a troop regardless of citizenship status or though the entire division had transport. (Following WWI it would national origin. My grandfather, never assembled in the United be purchased by the Danish East who was 23 and a farm laborer for States. They were ready to Asiatic Company.) Its destination Manley Harper, dutifully registered embark for Europe. On April was Brest, France, where it for the draft in Bingham Lake, 16 Johannes sailed with the landed on April 28. After several Minnesota. In January 1918, he 61st Infantry from Hoboken, days in so-called “rest camps” was drafted. (A popular notion has New Jersey on the steamship to recover from the voyage, the been that foreign-born recruits or Czaritza. The ship was relatively 61st Infantry left Brest in French draftees automatically became new, having been constructed railroad boxcars, traveling to Bar- U.S. citizens. This was not the in Glasgow in 1915 for the sur-Aube, 100 miles southeast of case. However, in recognition Russian East Asiatic Steamship Paris. of the many non-citizens who were in active duty, Congress, on May 9, 1918, amended the naturalization law to allow those serving abroad to fast-track the citizenship process. After the war, my grandfather would take advantage of this.)
On February 3, 1918, Johannes Nielsen reported for duty at Camp Green, North Carolina. Here he was assigned to Company M of the 61st Infantry as a rifleman. The 61st Infantry was a part of the Fifth Division of the U.S. Army, known as the Red Diamond Division. He could not know that the Fifth Division would play a key role in the first action that the Americans would take as an army, independent of the French and British armies. Initial training occurred at Camp Green in weapons use, bayonet charges, and trench and gas warfare.
04
04. Map Map from The Fifth U.S. Division in the World War 1917-1919. The blackened areas show where the 5th Division served. First, at the lower right, in the Arnould and St. Die Sectors in the Voges Mountains. Next, in the center, the St. Mihiel Sector. Finally, left and above, the Meuse-Argonne Sector during which American forces suffered their greatest casualties.
Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations 17 After reaching France and before On June 1 the 61st Infantry While the Fifth Division was entering battle, units of the was ordered to move closer engaged in the Voges during American Expeditionary Force to the battlefront for further the summer of 1918, a heated (AEF) underwent further training. training under French command. debate was occurring between Bar-sur-Aube, in Champagne, This was the final preparation Marshal Ferdinand Foch, a some 75 miles from the front, before entering the trenches in French general and Supreme was selected as the training the Voges, an area of rugged, Allied Commander, and General site for the Fifth Division. The forested hills above Strasbourg John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, 61st Infantry, which included my and Colmar along the Rhine commander of the AEF. Marshal grandfather, arrived there on May River and at the very eastern Foch wanted to incorporate 2. Over the next several weeks, edge of the Western Front. American divisions into the the entire Red Diamond Division This was a relatively quiet part French and British armies in a assembled for the first time. In of the battle lines, and it was major offensive in the Meuse- addition to the 61st Infantry, seen as an appropriate place Argonne region north of Verdun. the Division also included the for regiments of the AEF to gain General Pershing insisted that his 6th, 11th, and 60th, Infantries, initial battle experience. On June forces fight as an independent the 19th, 20th, and 21st Field 16 my grandfather saw his first American army under Foch’s Artilleries and the 7th Engineers. action in a raid near the villages command but not until after the Here the entire Fifth Division of Violu and la Cude. However, fledgling army was tested. This began more intensive training in most of his experience was occurred in a campaign around trench warfare. Special emphasis keeping watch from the trenches the French city of St. Mihiel, was placed on gas warfare and over “no-man’s land” for enemy an area of fields, forests, and the use of gas masks. attack. hills along the west bank of the Moselle River that had been held by the Germans since the beginning of the war. The two
05 06
05. Machine gun nest German machine gun emplacement in the Voges Mountains. Because of the difficult, densely forested terrain, this was a relatively quiet area of the Western Front. 06. Frapelle monument John Mark standing beside the 5th Division Marker in the Village of Frapelle. This was the first French community liberated by an American unit in World War I. Following the war, the Fifth Division Association erected monuments like this to mark important sites where the Division had seen action.
18 Museum of Danish America 18 leaders reached a compromise: on the Mad River, a tributary Company M and my grandfather, the French would provide artillery, of the Moselle River. After Johannes, had seen their first tank, and air support for the St. overrunning the enemy trenches, real battle at St. Mihiel and now Mihiel offensive. Once the initial fighting involved crawling through prepared for what was to be its objectives were achieved, the dense undergrowth and taking out greatest, longest, and costliest “American First Army” would machine gun nests. By September battle. move to the Meuse-Argonne. 18, the objectives were reached and exceeded, and regiments of Back in Martin County, Minnesota, In August 1918 the Fifth Division the Fifth Division, including the a double wedding on the Wolter was withdrawn from the Voges 61st Infantry, were withdrawn farm was being planned. My and repositioned for the St. and repositioned for training and grandmother, Meta, would marry Mihiel offensive. The attack resupply before their participation Arthur Kaeding, and her next older began on September 12 with a in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, sister, Hedwig (“Hattie”), would heavy bombardment, and at 5 the first phase of which was marry Herb Ehlen, a German a.m., the American First Army, planned for September 26. Lutheran parochial school teacher numbering half a million men, who was teaching in Mankato. advanced into the German lines. Following their marriage, Meta The Fifth Division was engaged and Arthur were to take over the in a mile-wide sector of forests Kaeding farm as his parents were interspersed with meadows and planning to retire. In preparation farm fields, from the village of for the double wedding reception, Regnieville north to Rembercourt Meta and Hattie’s parents, Heinrich and Augusta, had a new building erected which, after the reception, would be used for storing farm implements. They did this despite the fact that they, too, were retiring and selling their farm before moving to Mankato.
07 08
07. Landscape The gentle, rolling hills of fields and forests leading to Dun-sur-Meuse across which the 5th Division fought at the close of the war. 08. Double wedding The Double Wedding of Hattie Wolter to Herb Ehlen and Metta Wolter to Arthur Kaeding on October 6, 1918 at St. James’ Lutheran Church in rural Northrup, Minnesota.
Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations 19 It was a good time to sell farms. Meanwhile, back in France, Units in the American army did During the war commodity prices the Meuse-Argonne offensive not constantly fight. Companies had steadily risen, which in turn had begun, although the Fifth were sent into battle, and then, led to increases in farm values. Division had yet to join the battle. after several days to a week, Indeed, farming was seen as an Fighting took place on what was withdrawn for rest, resupply, and important part of the war effort. generally agreed to be the most to replenish forces; the number of According to the Selective Service difficult terrain on the Western those killed, gassed, or wounded Act of 1917, young farmers who Front, and it was not going well. were high. An additional factor were assisting their parents Regiments of the American First contributing to weakened units were temporarily exempted but Army were making slow progress. was the growing number of those available for military service. On October 14, the Fifth Division sick or dying from the Spanish This meant that young farmers joined the battle. Though it Flu. A worldwide pandemic, like Arthur were less likely to be advanced, between October 14 the strain of influenza was first drafted. and November 4, the Division recorded in late 1917, in a French was only able to move forward a military hospital near the English The double wedding was held on distance of just over three miles. Channel. It became known as the October 6 at St. James’ Lutheran Combat was often hand to hand, “Spanish Flu” because Spain, in rural Northrup. The reception particularly in two dense forests, which remained neutral during the that followed lasted for three the Bois des Rappes and the Bois war, did not censor news about days and was a chance for the de Foret. the pandemic. The first recorded extended community to celebrate. case in the United States was in The only dark note was that Haskell County, Kansas in January Meta’s engagement ring, which 1918. she had left in her bedroom in the upstairs of her parents’ house, Sometime late in October or early was stolen. She and her sisters November, Company M was thought they knew who stole the pulled from the line for rest. Their ring, but it was never returned. captain indicated that they would Following the wedding reception, not need their gas masks. My she joined Arthur on the Kaeding grandfather later told his children farm. that this was a tragic mistake. The German artillery lobbed mustard gas shells into the assembled troops of Company M.
“They’re all dead.”
These are the words my grandfather said he heard after regaining consciousness. He struggled to move his feet.
“Wait! There’s one alive here.”
09
09. Cemetery The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. This is the largest American cemetery in Europe, with the remains of over 14,000 Americans who lost their lives in World War I, most in the Meuse-Argonne campaign.
20 Museum of Danish America Over the next days, he was I sometimes try to imagine what Doctors had suggested that, moved from a field hospital to the Christmas of 1918 must have due to his internal injuries a gas hospital, finally reaching been like for each of them – my from having been gassed, my AEF Base Hospital 26 in Allerey, grandfather in a foreign hospital, grandfather might not be able France on November 20, nine my 20-year-old grandmother to have children. This may have days after the Armistice. During having just lost her husband and contributed to his breaking off those intervening days, the allied expecting a child – but I really of an engagement with Clara forces, including the Fifth Division, cannot. I’m too aware that within Petersen, a Danish-American pushed on, breaking the back of five years they would meet in girl from Luck, Wisconsin German resistance and leading to Mankato. whom he had met while living in the warring sides agreeing to an Minneapolis, but I know it was armistice. Johannes, now John Nielsen, much more, as I have read some would use his “War Bonus” to of his letters to my grandmother. The Armistice ended fighting attend the Dunwoody Institute on the 11th hour of the 11th in Minneapolis, studying civil On June 15, 1924 (my day of the 11th month of 1918. engineering. After completing his grandmother’s 26th birthday), Though the Treaty of Versailles coursework in 1923, he would Meta and John were married at officially ending the Great War get a job in the county road Immanuel Lutheran Church in was not signed until June 28, office in Mankato and board at Mankato. Together they would 1919, exactly five years from the Drewes Boarding House. have seven children, although the assassination of Archduke There he would meet Meta Wolter one died shortly after birth. My Ferdinand in Sarajevo, my Kaeding, who was working for father, John Wolter Nielsen, is the grandfather’s war was over. He Mrs. Drewes. Meta had given birth oldest. In 1926, a year after my felt lucky to have survived and to a daughter, Luella, on August father was born, my grandparents would lie in a hospital for 50 23, 1919. moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota days until he was released. By where my grandfather eventually April 12, 1919 he would be back became the County Engineer for in the United States, honorably Freeborn County. discharged as a Private First- Class and returning to work for Manley Harper in Bingham Lake.
In Minnesota, Arthur and Meta had settled into newly married life on the Kaeding farm. In early December, Arthur came down with the Spanish Flu. Though he seemed to be recovering, on December 9, he died of pneumonia. The funeral was at St. James’ Lutheran Church, where just two months earlier they had been married; now he was buried in its cemetery. Within days after the funeral, Meta learned she was pregnant. Widowed and expecting, she left the farm and moved to Mankato to live with her parents.
10
10. Wedding day Meta and John Nielsen’s wedding on June 15, 1924 in Mankato, Minnesota.
Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations 21 Grandpa Nielsen was always proud of his service to his country. In fact, often on Armistice Day, he would put on his old uniform and be photographed. I especially cherish one picture: it was taken in 1938, 20 years after the end of the “Great War.” He is standing with my grandmother and their children at the time – two more daughters were yet to be born, and Luella was a second-year student at Dana College. My father is holding the American flag. I have a feeling that both my grandfather and grandmother felt proud and profoundly blessed.
11
Researching the Stories of World War One Veterans
Those attempting to learn more about their ancestors who served in World War I face a challenge. The reason – on July 12, 1973 there was a fire at the National Archive in St. Louis, Missouri. The fire destroyed about 80% of the individual records of those who served between 1912 and 1960. (My grandfather’s records were among those destroyed.)
Despite the potential lack of evidence, it is important to begin research at the National Archives as there may be a chance that the records survived the fire. Research and requests related to Veterans’ Service Records can be made online at: www.archives.gov/veterans
A second resource is The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. This is the only museum in the United States dedicated to preserving the history of this war and is well worth a visit. One can learn more about the museum and the resources the museum offers at its website: www.theworldwar.org/ Note that the website offers an “Online Collections Data Base” under the drop-down menu “Explore.”
A third resource is the state historical society of the state where an ancestor was drafted or enlisted. A Google search will provide access to appropriate websites. Potential resources can vary dramatically. For example, the Minnesota State Historical Society in 1920 circulated a four-page questionnaire to all World War I veterans and created files for each one who responded, including discharge papers and “war bonus” applications. (Fortunately, my grandfather completed the questionnaire.) History Nebraska (the Nebraska State Historical Society) maintains a record of “World War I Draft Registration Cards,” but has few personal records.
Finally, a visit to the courthouse and if there is one, the county historical museum, in the county where an ancestor enlisted or was drafted can provide unexpected information. Shortly after WWI, Cottonwood County, Minnesota (the county where my grandfather was drafted) published what looks like a “high-school yearbook” with pictures of all the young men from the county who served along with brief descriptions of their service. (I was able to purchase a copy since the Cottonwood Historical Museum had extras!)
11. 1938 Armistice Day Armistice Day, November 11, 1938. My father John (13) holds the flag. My Aunt Marion (4), Uncle James (8) and Aunt Eleanor (10) stand in front of my grandparents.
22 Museum of Danish America denmark, october 1943: occupation and resistance ON VIEW IN THE KRAMME GALLERY THROUGH MARCH 24, 2019 This exhibition is made possible thanks to generous support from The Danish Home, Croton-on-Hudson, New York Thanks to Scandinavia, Inc., New York City, New York
Imagine: deportation of all Jews in the A massive round-up of over 7,000 country. Jewish people was planned for Your family has lived in Denmark September 30, 1943 – timed to for generations. Though Nazi Imagine: coincide with Rosh Hashanah, Germany has occupied the the holiest day of the Jewish year. Your neighbor warns you that country for over three years, most However, news of the action was German soldiers are planning aspects of daily life have been leaked and quickly spread among arrests on Friday. Your coworker unchanged. Danes from all walks of life, says they heard things might Christian and Jewish alike. This happen sooner, maybe tonight. Now you hear that your family sparked one of the largest rescue might be arrested or deported. Do you take time to plan or to efforts of World War II to save the lives of thousands of people by Do you believe the rumors? pack? ferrying them across the water to In the summer of 1943, Denmark Do you seek a hiding place neutral Sweden. had been occupied by Nazi immediately? Germany for three years. For most of that time, daily life had changed little: people still went to work, children attended schools, and both churches and synagogues held regular services. But in August 1943 more and more Danish citizens started to openly resist the Nazis through public actions: strikes, passive resistance, and sabotage. The rising tensions ultimately led to the resignation of the Danish government and much tighter restrictions on public gatherings. The Nazis, who up to that point had made no overt threats to the Jewish residents of Denmark, began to plan for the arrest and 01
By 01. Resistance Resistance fighters in position behind a barricade. 2007.050.002 – Tova Gift of the Royal Danish Embassy Brandt
AMERICA LETTER 23 Imagine: Nearly 500 Danish Jews Svend Christensen were arrested and sent to A stranger brings a message to Theresienstadt concentration Born: July 10, 1921, Copenhagen, meet at a warehouse near the camp. Through the efforts of Denmark harbor late at night. Danish diplomats, the Nazis Occupation during the war: pledged that no Danes would be Do you trust this person? Photoengraver and Police officer sent to other locations, such as During the fall of 1943 over Auschwitz or other death camps. Died: May 20, 2012, Des Moines, 7,000 people were first hidden – Though some Danes did die in the United States sometimes for weeks – and then camp of disease and starvation, smuggled out of Denmark by most survived to return to Svend was born in Copenhagen boat. Sweden had announced Denmark at the end of the war. and worked as a photoengraver. that its borders would be open However, during the occupation In total, over 95% of Danish Jews to refugees, and prepared he enrolled in the Danish police survived the Holocaust. A tree to welcome individuals and force and became a member of planted in honor of the Danish families. Ultimately, the rescued the resistance. Part of Svend’s resistance stands on the Avenue Danes spent the rest of the war job was to patrol the harbour of the Righteous at the Yad in Sweden and returned home and inspect any boats to see if Vashem Holocaust Memorial in in 1945, many to homes and they were hiding Jews, but he Israel. businesses kept safe and intact “didn’t see” any and so the Jews by friends and neighbors. remained safe. By luck Svend managed to escape the police roundup in 1943 because he was at the dentist at the time. Svend and the dentist heard the air siren go off and saw the Danish policemen being herded into the streets and arrested. Svend grabbed his gun and the dentist’s coat and fled to another city before hiding in a ferry and sailing for Sweden. Svend remained in Sweden until the liberation. In 1954 Svend and his wife Elly immigrated to the United States.
02
02. Officers Photograph of Svend Christensen (back row, left) and fellow police officers, November 11, 1940. 2002.139.011 – Gift of Svend Christensen.
24 Museum of Danish America Steen Metz Monica Wichfeld and member of the communist resistance faction, and through Born: May 5, 1935, Odense, Born: July 12, 1894, London, him Monica became involved. Denmark. England She helped distribute illegal newspapers, hide British/ Occupation during the war: Occupation during the war: Danish parachutists, and receive Elementary school student Housewife packages dropped from British Currently living in the United Died: February 27, 1945, airplanes. Throughout these States Waldheim, Germany missions she never involved her husband or two sons, but her Steen was born in Odense, 5 Monica was born into British daughter Varinka followed in her years before the start of the nobility, and through social mother’s footsteps and even German occupation and exactly gatherings she meet her husband married fellow resister Flemming 10 years before the subsequent Jørgen Wichfeld. After their B. Muus. liberation. Steen’s family was wedding in 1916 the couple Jewish, but for the first 3 years of moved to Jørgen’s estate In 1944 Monica was betrayed by the occupation this did not pose Engestofte on Lolland, and a parachutist who had cracked a great problem; with the Jewish Monica gained Danish citizenship. under the German interrogations, roundup in 1943, things changed. and was arrested by Gestapo. The family did not escape, likely As the Germans took over Monica was interrogated for because the threat did not seem Denmark Monica wanted to aid months, and in the end she as great in Odense in comparison the resistance, but she lacked received the death penalty. The to Copenhagen, and was contacts. In 1942, she rented verdict was later overturned and therefore arrested on October 2, out a cottage on their property instead she received lifetime 1943 and send to Theresienstadt. to Hilmar Wulff, a communist imprisonment. She was sent to a On March 13, 1944, Steen’s father women’s prison in Germany and died of starvation. After the death died in 1945 from tuberculosis of Steen’s father, the Danes in and viral pneumonia. the camp started receiving care packages from the Danish Red Cross, which contained food, clothes and vitamins. While the Germans took most of the contents of the packages, they were vital for the survival of the Danes in concentration camps. In April 1945 the white busses arrived at Theresienstadt and Steen and his mother were brought to Sweden, and later they returned home to Denmark. In 1962 Steen moved to the United States together with his Canadian wife Eileen.
America Letter 25 Anne Ipsen, A child’s tapestry Sam Besekow, quoted in The Valdemar Koppel, quoted in of war: Rescue of the Danish Jews by The Rescue of the Danish Jews Leo Goldberger: by Leo Goldberger: “Meat was never really rationed because that required accounting “In the dark of night my wife “I was told by an eminent doctor for how much meat there was. If and I squeezed into herring from Aarhus, whose Jewish the Germans knew that Denmark cases, thoughtfully provided origin had caused him to flee to actually had meat, they would with breathing holes. Actually Stockholm, that a lady, totally have shipped most of it back to the cases could barely contain unknown to him, had come up Germany or to the front. Thus, a human body and we lay in to him in the days before he fled we pretended that there was very our boxes cramped like unborn when things were looking bad, little, but a steady customer would babies. (…) at last we were in saying, ‘You don’t know me, but be handed a wrapped package, Swedish waters and could break I know you. My name is so and take-it-or-leave-it. Sometimes out of our cases into fresh air. so, this is my address and there it was frankfurters, sometimes (…) a bottle of champagne was is the key to my house if you a larger roast. Smart shopper opened, ‘Welcome to Sweden!’ ever should need it.’ Once when that Mor was, she was a ‘steady these words were to follow us for I told this incident to a lady from customer’ at several shops and the rest of our years in exile.” Copenhagen who similarly had gladly accepted whatever she been in danger, she remarked, could get. She developed her own ‘Oh, yes. The same happened to novel recipes to take advantage of me. At one point I had four keys whatever we had.” in my pocket for houses entirely unknown to me.’”
26 Museum of Danish America exhibition calendar
Balancing Act – Peter Juhl Denmark, October 1943: Jacob Riis: How the Main floor Occupation and Resistance Other Half Lives On view through March 17, 2019 Kramme Gallery Kramme Gallery On view through March 24, 2019 Open April 6 through May 27, Dannebrog at 800 2019 Multimedia Room Vessel: Ceramic Art On view through 2019 by Michael Geertsen and New Nordic Cuisine Morten Løbner Espersen Kramme Gallery Main floor Opens June 22, 2019 Open March 22 through September 2, 2019
01
02
03
01. Michael Geersten, Grey Standing Sculpture. 02. Morten Løbner Espersen, Blood Moon 03. Jacob A. Riis, “I Scrubs” – Little Katie from the West 52nd Street Industrial School, 1891-1892; reproduction on modern gelatin printing out paper, original 4 x 5 inches; From the Collection of the Museum of the City of New York, 90.13.4.132
America Letter 27 wartime artifacts
There are thousands of stories Photographs taken by soldiers A well-known story from World connected to World War II and often depicted large military War II is the rescue of most of just as many artifacts around the machinery or the rubble left Denmark’s Jewish population globe from that period in history. by bombing raids. Some of following the German occupation. Within the collections of the the photos taken by Junior Svend Christensen was a police Museum of Danish America are Rasmussen and his fellow officer in Copenhagen. One many pieces that illustrate both serviceman Merle Merritt are of his responsibilities was to the military and the human sides similar, featuring tanks and inspect boats for possible Jewish of the war. airplanes or destroyed buildings, stowaways, but he “didn’t see” but others are more personal and any, allowing many lives to be Several enlistment documents, lighthearted. Since both men were saved. As a show of resistance to registration cards, and raised on farms, they took photos Germany, some Danish citizens identification cards are part of of livestock and fields. There are found other ways to protest the the archives. This registration also a few photos of quiet times in occupation. Some wore ribbons, card was issued to immigrant their barracks, such as a photo of jewelry, or other decorations to Rasmus Moritz West, who left Junior writing a letter. affirm their national identity. This Falster, Denmark by 1910 and pin consists of a red and a white farmed near Kimballton, Iowa. After his U.S. military service, he and his wife, Gudrun, returned to Denmark in the early 1950s, settling in Helsingør. Another ID card belonged to Elin M. Sveen, who was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1926, but was raised by her mother in Denmark. During the war she was required to carry this ID with her anytime she was away from home. Elin and her mother returned to the United States in 1947 following the war.
03
01 02 04
By 01. Registration card Gift of Joan Grønhøj, 2003.078.005. 02. ID card Gift of Karen Angela Hildmann, 2016.020.001. 03. Resistance ribbon with coins Gift of Richard and Blanche Stanford Nielsen, 1989.131.001. 04. Photo from album Gift of Merle Rasmussen, 2015.059.016.
28 Museum of Danish America ribbon, the colors of the flag, Once the war was over, many and four Danish coins, each from families, churches, schools, Iowa. Its 15 stars represent lodge 1940, and together representing and social clubs honored those members who served, including the date that the occupation who served, not only here in one Sisterhood member. Four began. The donor’s sister, who is the U.S., but throughout the members represented here had unnamed in our files, wore this in countries who participated in the been injured, and one was killed. quiet protest from 1940 to 1945. allied efforts. Mass-produced scarves commemorating VE Day, Invitations to “Welcome Home” needlework kits memorializing celebrations, lists of relief supplies the many components and faces sent to Denmark by American aid of Danish resistance, and name groups, souvenirs picked up by quilts are some of the pieces in servicemen, uniforms, medals, the museum’s collections. This and more illustrate Danish and flag was a joint project between Danish-American participation in the Danish Sisterhood and Danish World War II. They are preserved Brotherhood lodges of Clear Lake, in order to add depth to the names they represent.
05 06
This “Prayer of Thanks for the Danish People” was prepared by Rabbi Joel Soffin. It reads, in part, “We thank You, for the Danish people who shielded us 50 years ago at this season. They took us in without a Albert and Karen Hansine Vejlo moment’s hesitation and received a pair of identical bird hid us from the Nazis, figurines as a thank you gift when we had no place from a Jewish girl they helped else to go… In facing up during the German occupation to the Nazi threat, they of Denmark. Gift of Karen Beall, showed the world the 2017.009.005 power of goodness and the power of caring.” Gift of Arvid Bollesen, 1993.166.001
05. Flag Gift of Thorvald Sorensen, 2010.020.001. 06. Baton Gift of Svend Christensen, 2002.139.005.
COLLECTION CONNECTION 29 collections assessment for preservation program
In order to stay on top of This year, the Museum of Danish artifact storage methods, taking current trends and to make sure America participated in the detailed climate and light level professional standards are being Collections Assessment for readings, and looking at the met, museums often participate Preservation Program. CAP is buildings themselves and noting in assessment programs. These managed by both the Institute of any structural, equipment, or programs typically involve self- Museum and Library Services and maintenance improvements that evaluations by the museum staff the Foundation of the American can be made. The final report and/or board members, as well Institute for Conservation of submitted by the assessors as site visits by outside assessors Historic and Artistic Works. The provides helpful recommendations who have expertise in the many purpose of the program is to which can then be used to direct facets of museum work. help small museums and mid- long-range planning and as sized ones like MoDA identify leverage for funding from granting areas of improvement in the agencies and private donors. care of artifact collections. This involves things like examining CAP provides two assessors, a conservator and a historic buildings expert. In August, Elisa Redman and Jerry Berggren came to Elk Horn as MoDA’s assessors. Elisa is the Director of Preventative Conservation at the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis. Her expertise is in preventive conservation and museum management, and she conducts numerous surveys each year and teaches workshops on a wide range of collections care topics. Jerry is the founder and principal-in-charge of Berggren Architects in Lincoln, Nebraska. With more than 40 years of architectural experience, he has also developed an expertise in the preservation and restoration of historic structures.
01
By 01. Speaker Elisa Redman, center, Director of Preventative Conservation at the Midwest Art Angela Conservation Center in Minneapolis speaks to the group. Stanford
30 Museum of Danish America Out of a two-day visit and Other recommendations included The recommendations that come many conversations with staff, installing crack monitors on select from assessments like CAP are technical readings, and photos, interior walls of Bedstemor’s incorporated into departmental the assessors created a final House, in order to observe goals as well as larger institutional report containing details of further separations; adding strategic plans. The museum their observations and a list of additional portions of museum participated in CAP for the first recommendations. These range operating systems to the time in 2011, and almost all of from more day-to-day, practical emergency generator, in case of those recommendations were tasks to longer-term strategic loss of power; and developing accomplished; we expect to show planning goals. Three of the key a long-range collections plan, the same progress with the 2018 recommendations were: which would assist with clear list. and intentional development of 1 | Upgrades in lighting systems collections based on its existing While the museum already offers – Converting to a purposefully strengths and weaknesses. a high level of professional care to designed system of LED lighting our collections, there are always with fixtures that are more improvements to work toward. versatile than the current system Assessments like these help us and produce less damaging prioritize and plan as we move light and heat. This would allow from goals to reality. for more appropriate and easily adjusted light levels, and would be far more energy efficient.
2 | Upgrades in security – Moving from traditional, keyed doors to an electronic key card system and adding security cameras. Both options would allow for an additional level of protection both for the collection and the facilities.
3 | Fire safety/disaster planning – Installing fire systems at the Genealogy Center, Bedstemor’s House, and the Jens Dixen Cabin. These systems are valuable steps toward protecting people, collections, and buildings. Currently, only the main museum building has a full detection and suppression system in place.
02
02. Bedstemor’s House, built in 1908, requires preservation of the structure itself and the collection it holds.
America Letter 31 01 a danish bike tour
It was a week of kilometers The group included two museum Bro and Pinderhughes were and calories. Kilometers were board members (David Hendee newlyweds. counted; calories were not. of Omaha and Carol Svendsen of Denver, and their respective “The special part for us was A group of nine Americans with spouses, Polly Hendee and simply experiencing it together ancestral or business ties to Jay Mead), a board member- as part of our honeymoon,’’ Bro Denmark bicycled around a elect (Bruce Bro of Carefree, said, “and introducing Stacie to slice of the Danish mainland last Arizona, and his wife, Stacie Denmark by bicycle.’’ summer during a tour inspired by Pinderhughes), and three others Bro had been to Denmark a board member of the Museum (Alexandra Hernández-Nørgaard several times and biked around of Danish America. and Frank Meckel of Houston, Copenhagen, but never much and Sam Mason of Philadelphia). around the Danish countryside.
By 01. David Hendee, left, Jay Mead, Alexandra Hernández-Nørgaard, Polly Hendee, and Carol David Svendsen line up in their Museum of Danish America jerseys for a photo before pushing off Hendee on the second day of a bicycle tour in Denmark. The group spent two nights in cottages at Knudhule Badehotel in the provincial village of Ry.
32 Museum of Danish America “Our favorite day was the last day Svendsen launched the idea of “We think it’s the best way to as we biked along the coast back a bicycle tour of Denmark when see and feel a place,’’ Svendsen to Århus,’’ he said. “The views introducing herself during her first said recently. “You intimately along the coastline as we biked meeting as a board member at experience the geography as you through the woods were lovely. the museum in October 2016. She ride up and down. You experience There was something special said she and her husband enjoyed the sights and smells and sounds and intimate about seeing the bike touring. They have biked without the barrier of engine countryside by bike that you can’t in England, France, Italy, and in noise, metal, and windshield. experience by car.” Arizona, California, Colorado, And local people are interested in Florida, New England, Oregon, talking to you about your travels. A month after returning home, South Dakota, and other places I’ve always thought it would be Hernández-Nørgaard said it still across the United States. great to ride in Denmark, the made her laugh to remember home of my ancestors.” how many rookie navigators were needed to decipher maps daily. Denmark ranks at the top of the world’s bicycle-friendly places. “It definitely was cycling by A national network of more than committee!” she said. 6,800 miles of sign-posted routes criss-crosses the kingdom, largely on dedicated off-highway trails.
02 03
02. Map-reading by committee was an hourly occurrence. Fresh off the ferry to Samsø, Stacie Pinderhughes, Frank Meckel, Sam Mason, and Jay Mead gather around Alexandra Hernández-Nørgaard and her map. 03. Jay Mead and Carol Svendsen pose for a portrait after a picnic of smoked fish and pastries along the coastline south of Århus.
America Letter 33 A few board members expressed Svendsen selected Ruby Rejser’s Here’s a daily recap of the initial interest in Svendsen’s tour “East Jutland à la Carte” tour August tour, with comments idea. During the next year she for the group. The travel agency or impressions from some wrote an information sheet that described it as “a week with participants: pointed out the potential for sandy beaches, wind in your hills and rain, and included an hair, salt on your skin, fairytale Day 1 of the tour featured an easy estimate of daily mileage. Then views, idyllic rural life, fascinating day’s cycling from Århus to Ry. she set up the week-long outing museums, Nordic cuisine, The path out of Århus followed the through Ruby Rejser, a small romantic villages, and peaceful stream Århus Å past wetlands and tour and travel agency in Århus. bike paths.’’ along lakes, before reaching a hilly All participants paid their own stretch of road. The 41-kilometer travel and tour expenses. Primal The tour started and ended in (25 mi) route crossed the diverse Wear of Denver worked with Århus, with riders leaving in rain and rich countryside before Nicky Christensen, the museum’s and returning in sunshine. The ending at Knudhule Badehotel communications specialist, to city was Europe’s designated in the provincial village of Ry. design a custom cycling jersey Culture Capital of 2017. It’s a city The village sits on the banks of featuring a museum theme in of cobblestone streets, charming Gudenå, the only real river in Danish colors. Most of the tour squares, many cafés, trendy Denmark. participants purchased the red- shops, forests, and beaches. It’s Meckel: “Flags and vimpels and-white shirts to wear during within biking distance of some of everywhere!” the daily rides. the highest points in Denmark, the scenic Lake District, and Svendsen: “Great camaraderie Samsø, the “renewable energy with the group. Only a small island.” Riders stayed at either the amount of whining about the Comwell Hotel or the Scandic City rain.” Hotel.
04 05
04. Polly Hendee spins down a rural road during the first leg of the tour from Århus to Ry. 05. Stacie Pinderhughes flies a Danish flag in her bicycle’s luggage rack.
34 Museum of Danish America Hernández-Nørgaard: “The dinner The bike trail followed an old Hernández-Nørgaard: “We at the Knudhule Badehotel was railway track and passed by Vrads continued to need a whole village awesome! Loved the beautifully Station, where several riders to get from point A to point B.” set table and the scrumptious stopped for desserts. Then it was dinner. The dishes were not on to Vrads Sande, a landscape Day 3 took the riders 43 only awesomely beautiful but of inland sand dunes. The stage kilometers (30 mi) from Ry to extremely tasty! I would say it was ended in Silkeborg, capital of Odder, via the charming lakeside one of our top meals.” the Lake District. Most cyclists town of Skanderborg. The trail returned to Ry by train. Two, passed by some of the nicest Svendsen: “Danes enjoying a beer however, finished the day riding lakes in Denmark with views and a round of miniature golf at 24 kilometers (15 mi) to Ry across to the highest ”mountains” in Knudhule Badehotel. Who knew hilly woodlands. Denmark, all less than 200 (656 miniature golf was the national ft) meters above sea level. Sites sport?” Hernández-Nørgaard: “We included Bronze Age burial ate apples off trees (I just love mounds and the ruins of a Day 2 was an out-and-back route to forage), and ate the most medieval monastery at Øm. Once that included a 300-meter (984 ft) delicious dessert ever at the Old through Skanderborg, the cyclists climb over the 51 kilometers (32 Vrads train station. I followed passed by Stilling Lake and then mi) between Ry and Silkeborg. the advice on their blackboard: back into the hills and views of the The outbound leg took riders ‘Skinny people are easier to sea before reaching Odder and through the unspoiled countryside kidnap. Stay safe, eat cake.’ Am the Park Hotel. of Central Jutland, crossing hilly still dreaming of the lagkage (layer moraines into flatter terrain. They cake) that Carol and Jay shared, Mason, who had been in pedaled around Salten Langsø my flourless chocolate cake, and Copenhagen on business, joined and through woodland clearings y’all’s apple tart.” the group in Skanderborg for the with blueberries, junipers, and ride to Odder. Ole Sønnichsen, a heather. At the end of a long Svendsen: “Riding through a former museum board member climb, after reaching the top of forest on narrow trail that used to from Bjert, Denmark, planned to a hill rimmed with Bronze Age be a railroad line. Surprised by the join the group for dinner in Odder, burial mounds in the midst of amount of forested land we rode but canceled when work required farm fields, Svendsen said she through…. the smell of manure him to be in Copenhagen. wondered: “Is my great-uncle as we rode through the farm Thor buried there?” country…. a cold Tuborg Classic Svendsen: “Friendly, articulate at the end of a long day of riding.” Danes interested in us, and concerned about America. Danes, proud of their country, and its egalitarian society.”
Mason: “Bad news: weight of the bike; good news: granny/ grandfather gears.”
Hernández-Nørgaard: “I finally got a taste of Mirabelle plums, which I had seen on the trails, but didn’t know if they were edible. Met a lady searching for her lost cat, and (met) her husband (not lost).
06
06. Jay Mead cruises on a rain-glistened road past a Bronze Age burial mound.
America Letter 35 Svendsen: “Getting lost and On a hilltop near Issehoved at the Day 5 from Odder to Århus took multiple interpretations of what northern tip of the island —more the cyclists along the east coast the ride directions meant.” than 4,400 miles from Elk Horn and past vacation homes and — two cyclists were astonished views of wind turbines in the Mason: “Horses on a hilly field to encounter an English-Danish sea. They crossed the lock at outlined against the blue Danish couple who buy Christmas gifts Norsminde Fjord, which separates sky… Thatch, thatch, thatch.” online from the museum’s Design the sea from the lake. Then it was Store for their American relatives. on through Marselisborg Forest On Day 4 the group biked to the to Århus Bay before leaving the port at Hou to board a ferry for Hernández-Nørgaard: “This must coastline to cycle through the a one-hour trip to Kolby Kås for be one of the most memorable Moesgard Museum grounds and cycling around the northern part days. The sun finally came out. past the summer residence of of Samsø, with its hilly seaside Samsø is just picture perfect … Queen Margrethe II. landscape, uncrowded beaches, old straw-thatched roofed homes and scenic villages. It was roughly … self-serve grocery shopping Mason: “Cozy, unassuming a 68-kilometer (42 mi) day after with mobile pay. … the Viking summer cottages lining the shore the ferry trip back to Jutland and hideaway channel.” (not thatched).” the final bike stage to Odder. Mason: “Samsø potatoes with Svendsen: “Smoked fish and At one point, Hernández- onions, mayonnaise sauce … and kringle picnic on the beach.” Nørgaard, who had been cycling thatch.” in the northern reaches of the island, detoured to Langør, a Meckel: “Unplanned encounters village on Samsø’s east coast. were the order of the day. A She had received an email funeral, the friendliest cows, and notification that her husband, the bluest cabbage.” Frank, who was cycling with Polly Hendee, had made a credit card Svendsen: “Good coffee and charge at a restaurant on the pickled herring for breakfast.” harbor there. She changed course to join them there.
07 08
07. During a chance encounter on Samsø, two cyclists met Bettin Petersen and her husband, John Bridge, who live in England and Denmark. Petersen orders Christmas gifts for her American relatives from the Museum of Danish America’s Design Store! 08. Alexandra Hernández-Nørgaard takes a rolling selfie with David Hendee on Samsø.
36 Museum of Danish America Hernández-Nørgaard: “And the Meckel: “My surprise to discover wienerbrød from Bagergården that ‘fried bacon’ was in fact, in Saxild was out-of-this-world perfectly translated on the menu good! Am still dreaming of it and at the Raadhuus Kafeen in Århus.” can’t wait to try making some of my own! Plus the salmon Mason: “Dogged restaurant sandwiches at Fiskehuset på research by Frank.” Norsminde Havn that they For the record, the five-day tour prepared for us were awesome. covered 254 kilometers (158 mi). Ahhh, the bread: crispy on the The caloric consumption was outside, soft on the inside. Just considerable, but confidential. glorious!”
09
Author David Hendee recently retired from a 44-year career as a newspaper journalist in Nebraska, all but two of the years at the Omaha World-Herald. He and his wife recently moved to Northfield, Minnesota, to be nearer to their grandchildren. His longest post-Denmark bike rides have been to local high school football games.
09. Fresh wienerbrød from Bagergården in Saxild was paired with salmon sandwiches for a coastline picnic on the final leg of the tour.
America Letter 37 perspectives from wartime Countless narratives are preserved in the Genealogy Center’s library and archives. Here are just a few, related to war and its effects on individuals and families, which have surfaced recently.
Carl August Mørch was seven The time was, probably conversation with strangers, years old when the second for a large part of it, spent can be given pieces of Slesvig-Holsten war broke out reading, and, regarding information that, no matter between Denmark and Prussia. Father, with playing chess. how innocent they seem, can Born in Løjt Parish in Aabenraa, They were also allowed to be harmful to us.’ he later moved to Copenhagen, send home letters, but they My brother Frederik was and at age 63 in 1919, he set were censored before they in Flensborg one day to out to hand-write his memoirs. were posted. visit Father, and he was He recalled his father getting They were also in several given access, presumably 1 arrested and imprisoned in 1864 interrogations. In one of hour, but the conversation [translation by Peter Dam-Hein]: these, Father was asked had to be in German and in whether he was Danish. ‘Yes! the presence of a German “…[T]hey were let out into In life and soul’ was Father’s officer.” the garden to have some answer. fresh air, closely guarded of A Prussian officer said How Carl Mørch’s notebook course, and they were not to Father, during such an ended up in Washington is, allowed to talk to each other, interrogation: ‘I do not for now, still a mystery, but nor talk to others. The door actually think that you are fortunately the memories he between the 2 rooms, where a spy at all, but we have took time and care to delineate the 3 from Løjt were kept, to get hold of such a well- a century ago are preserved for was, however, not very solid, known and prominent man in future generations. so a conversation could be your area, as there easily, in heard through it. Then, when someone in one of the rooms wanted to talk to someone in the other room about something, he would sit down by the door and loudly tell his roommate what he wanted to communicate to the other room, where their attention had been drawn by some practised sign, I do not know what.
01 02
By 01. Notebook “Childhood Recollections from Slesvig”. 2018-106. Discovered at a Kara thrift shop and donated to the museum by Sally York of Fircrest, WA in 2018. McKeever 02. Flag Carl Mørch holding the Danish flag in 1864.
38 Museum of Danish America Hans Christian Thygesen Hans was killed in action at Pearl “As part of his activity in scout Christiansen was born in Cedar Harbor, December 7, 1941. His work, Hans, who came of that Falls, Iowa, five days before death shocked Woodland and stout Nordic stock which the Armistice on November 5, 1918 Yolo County residents, and for world has reason to respect, to Danish immigrants Peder many, made the war suddenly worked and played and buddied and Ellen Christiansen. He was personal. The December 8 edition with Japanese youth who have their first child. From Ølgod and of the Woodland Daily Democrat now by some strange quirk of Amager, respectively, Peder and dedicated several columns to fate become the foes of the Ellen had met and married in Hans, printing an excerpt from his likes of him,” wrote Florence Cedar Falls, but when Hans was last letter home. After updating McGehee, regular columnist for two years old, they decided to his family about his movements the Democrat. “That those very try their luck further west. Peter and recounting the fun he had youth will be the first to mourn got a job working rice fields in flying a bomber, Hans closed his him we do not doubt. This is California, and the family lived December 1 letter: “Well, happy a sad commentary on the sick in a tent until they could afford family, I guess I will sign off now. world in which we have to live and a house. Eventually they joined Oh, by the way, how goes it with in which we try to find reason and other Danes in Woodland, the rice? And if you don’t hear sanity.” California, where Hans and his from me for a long time you will sister, Joy Peggy, grew up. Hans know I am seeing more of the was active in Boy Scouts and world, so don’t worry about it and became an Eagle Scout, played I will write as soon as I can. As piano and basketball, and went Ever, Hans.” to Sacramento junior college to study aviation. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in August 1940, becoming a second lieutenant and pilot stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii.
03 04
03. “Scouts Construct Open Air Fireplace”, Woodland Daily Democrat, April 23, 1934. 04. Dies “Hans Christiansen Dies in Battle with Japanese at Honolulu”, Woodland Daily Democrat, December 8, 1941.
America Letter 39 Mette (Axelsen) Haydt was 1930s. Still, he always hoped to There were more wonders ahead. born April 9, 1938 in Helberskov return to the U.S. He met Mette’s Her family settled in California, in northern Jutland. She turned mother, who had no interest in where Mette saw oranges two years old the day German moving to America, and once the everywhere. She and Claus loved occupation of Denmark began, war began, there was no chance them, and ate so many that marking her childhood with of leaving anyway. After the war, eventually, mindful of the enamel food scarcity and ration books. Helge asked Lea Kathrine to on their teeth, they were told to Christmases during the war reconsider leaving Denmark and cut back on oranges by their meant a few precious extra treats, made a deal with her: they would dentist. including a single orange. Mette not sell their farm, but lease it out, remembers her father, Helge, and if after two years she wasn’t Like Mette, her mother loved carefully scoring the orange with happy in America, they could America right away, and the his pocket knife, removing the return to Denmark. Axelsen family stayed in their new rind, and sharing the wedges home, where oranges were never around with his family until it was Thus, in 1949 Mette, her parents, scarce. gone. Her mother, Lea Kathrine, and her younger brother, Claus, dried the orange rind on their sailed from Copenhagen on wood-burning heater, later to the M.S. Batory. When a room grate it into a cake. steward on the ship discovered how much Mette and Claus loved If Mette’s father had been given oranges, he placed a fresh orange his way, his family would not have each day in the net on the wall been in Denmark during the war. next to their bunk beds. They He had immigrated to California in were thrilled. When they reached 1928 but returned to Denmark to New York and disembarked, farm when work was scarce in the Mette actually stepped off the ship into the United States with an orange in her hand.
05 06
05. Mette (Axelsen) Haydt, 1949, courtesy of Mette Haydt; 06. Axelsen family, 1949, left to right: Lea Kathrine, Mette, Claus, and Helge Axelsen, shortly before they immigrated to the United States, courtesy of Mette Haydt.
40 MUSEUM OF DANISH AMERICA other noteworthy items
The Odense City Museums in Cheyenne, our temporary, grant- DanishMuseum.org accounts give Denmark have organized an funded Archival Collections you ease of access to your Design exhibit on view at the Ellis Island Manager, is overhauling of one Store discount and wish list, View Immigration Museum in New York of our collections categories: Our Collection (if applicable), and through January 6. The Museum the vaguely termed “Special pre-filled renewal information. of Danish America has loaned Collections.” She says, “To date, Our members’ email addresses 41 pieces from its permanent I have updated approximately have been loaded into the secure collection - go look for them! 4,400 digital records, and in system. Your username will January I will have reorganized always be the main email address During the past five years, over 6,000 documents and associated with your membership. researchers at the University integrated over 8,000 into the If you have never logged in to your of Copenhagen have taken a Special Collections Archive.” account, please use the “Forgot closer look at audio recordings Password?” feature to receive an of Danish immigrants and their The deadlines for applying email with instructions on how to descendants in Canada, the U.S, to our Scan Design Foundation create a personalized password. and Argentina. They’ve recently Internships for Danish Please note that if you recently launched digital maps that graduate students are April 30 mailed a membership payment, provide access to sound bites of and November 1 each year. your website account may not yet historical North American Danish Information is on our website. reflect your updated membership along with information about the expiration date. speaker and the language. https:// danskestemmer.ku.dk/lydkort/
Time Travelers is a reciprocal membership network for historical museums, sites, and societies throughout the U.S. Museum of Danish America members receive exclusive benefits and privileges at more than 380 museums and historical sites in 45 states! You must show your current membership card to receive benefits. See the list at http://timetravelers.mohistory.org/ institutions/
Soon, the dates of immigration will be added to the Wall of Honor index - all thanks to the volunteer help of Rosalie Andersen and Marilyn Andersen!
Danish papirklip artist Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen demonstrated his techniques and style in our lobby during the Danish Villages’ Julefest this year. It was a big hit!
AMERICA LETTER 41 new additions to the wall of honor AUGUST 1, 2018 – NOVEMBER 20, 2018
The Danish Immigrant Wall The information below includes ANE MAGRETHE (GANSBERG) of Honor provides families the immigrant name, year of MØLLER (1873) Orum, Nebraska and friends with a means of immigration, location where they – Sandra L. Wunder, Eaton, CO preserving the memory of those settled, and the name and city of who emigrated from Denmark to the donor. DAGMAR AMALIE FRANCISKA America. Over 4,500 immigrants NIELSEN NEWMAN (1882) Nevis, are currently recognized on BENT HANSEN (1957) Rockford, Hubbard, Minnesota – Phyllis the Wall. Their stories and the Illinois – Kristie Hansen-Mendez, (Newman) Holven, Toledo, IA stories of their families contribute Chicago, IL to the growing repository of family histories at the museum’s Genealogy Center. You can find a list of the immigrants on the Wall of Honor at www. danishmuseum.org. jens jensen heritage path August 1, 2018 – November 20, 2018 The Jens Jensen Heritage Path is a place to celebrate an occasion or achievement, recognize an individual or organization, or honor the memory of a loved one. Twice a year the pavers will be engraved and placed within the Flag Plaza – October and May.
These individuals have Barbara Havick, Stone Mountain, GA Nancy Sand, Kimballton, IA contributed a paver in the sizes of Linda James, Papillion, NE Robert Stofferson, Papillion, NE small or medium. Verner Laursen, Esther Haahr and Welu, Thornell, and Denniston Paul Laursen, Crawfordsville, IN Families Leslie Brady, Papillion, NE Todd & Camille Nielsen, Waukee, IA Kris Wertz, Pekin, IL Kristie Hansen-Mendez, Chicago, IL
By Paver order forms can be found at www.danishmuseum.org/get-involved/ Deb recognition/commemorative-bricks Christensen Larsen
42 Museum of Danish America memorials August 1, 2018 – November 20, 2018
Through various funds, gifts have been received in memory of:
Richard Lee Andersen Peggy Jo Henriksen Gragert, my Mabel Madsen Beverly Bjelde daughter Mabel Madsen, Elk Horn, IA Virginia M. Bonvicini Ingrid Hansen Donald Madsen, formerly of Iowa Virgil L. Christensen of Harlan, IA Ingrid Hansen of Lincoln, NE City & recently Cedar Rapids, IA Virgil Christensen, “One Good Howard Henriksen H.C. Mathison, my husband Man!” Howard C. Henriksen, my Four Danish grandparents of Donald J. Christensen, my husband Marilyn Meyer husband Winifred LaRayne Cavnar Hans & Joan Miller Lloyd Christensen, my husband, Jergensen, Charter Member of LeVern & Marilyn Nielsen, my and Virgil Christensen, my The Denver Danes parents brother-in-law Vera Johnson Bruce G. Ohms of Anita, IA Cora E. Fagre Vera K. Laursen Johnson, Eagle Edith Ousky, grandmother of Cora Fagre, long time friend and Grove, IA Jenessa Denniston fellow Dane Roberta Lynn Jones Helen Parker Cora Fagre, long-time member of Carol Jorgensen Herbert & Mabel Petersen the Denver Danes Phyllis Jorgensen Miriam Rodholm Showalter Hans & Mathilde Farstrup Bryan Kite Dale Leslie Stofferson Kay Feisel Torben Klarlund and Erik Klarlund Pamela Whitmore Doloros Landblom in honor August 1, 2018 – November 20, 2018
Through various funds, gifts have been received in honor of people or special events.
Atlantic Friends of the Museum’s David Iversen and Phillip Iversen Kara McKeever for help in meeting entertainment Erna C. Jensen tracking down translations Lotte Christensen Lise Just of old church records from My dear Elk Horn Friends, Bent Lerno and in honor of the Schleswig Barbara Jacobsen, Deb Bieker, Holocaust and thanks to the MC McNabb Pat Nielsen, Jerri Hemmingsen, Danish people for their part MoDA’s Board of Directors Jackie Andersen, Eileen in helping their citizens at this holding their June 2018 board Sornsen, Karma Sorensen (and dark time in their lives meeting in Tyler, MN her Overgaard sisters) John Mark Nielsen Rasmus Thøgersen and his wonderful staff
Are you getting our monthly news? If not, we may not have your current email address. Visit www.danishmuseum.org to update your information, or email [email protected].
America Letter 43 thank you, organizations August 1, 2018 – November 20, 2018 These 72 organizations have contributed memberships or gifts-in-kind of $100 or more or have received complimentary or reciprocal memberships in recognition of exemplary service to the museum. We acknowledge their generosity in each edition of the America Letter during their membership.
Arcus AS, Hagan, Norway Danish Brotherhood Lodge #283, Elk Horn-Kimballton Optimist Club, Atlantic Friends of The Danish Dagmar, MT area Elk Horn & Kimballton, IA area Immigrant Museum, Atlantic, IA Danish Brotherhood Centennial Lodge Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, Boose Building Construction (Marty & #348, Eugene, OR area Solvang, CA Connie Boose), Atlantic, IA The Danish Canadian National Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community Carroll Control Systems, Inc. (Todd & Museum, Spruce View, Alberta, School District, Elk Horn, IA area Jalynn Wanninger), Carroll, IA Canada Faith, Family, Freedom Foundation Christopher Ranch LLC (Donald & The Danish Club of Houston, (Kenneth & Marlene Larsen), Karen Christopher), Gilroy, CA Houston, TX area Calistoga, CA The Copenhagen House (René G. Danish Club of Tucson, Tucson, AZ Hacways (Helene & Nanna Kærskov), Solvang, CA area Christensen), Hals, Denmark Country Landscapes, Inc. (Rhett Danish Cultural Center of Greenville, Harlan Tribune Newspapers, Inc. Faaborg), Ames, IA Greenville, MI (Steve Mores & Alan Mores), Danebod Lutheran Church, Tyler, MN The Danish Home, Croton-On- Harlan, IA Dania Society of Chicago, Chicago, Hudson, NY Henningsen Construction, Inc. (Brad IL area The Danish Home, Chicago, IL Henningsen, Vice President), Danish American Athletic Club, Danish Lutheran Church & Cultural Atlantic, IA Chicago, IL area Center, Yorba Linda, CA House of Denmark, San Diego, CA The Danish American Archive and Danish Mutual Insurance Association, Independent Order of Svithiod, Library, Blair, NE Elk Horn, IA Verdandi Lodge #3, Chicago, IL Danish American Club in Orange Danish Sisterhood Dagmar Lodge #4, area County, Huntington Beach, CA Chicago, IL area Knudsen Old Timers, Glendale, CA area Danish Sisterhood Dronning Landmands Bank (Jeff Petersen, Danish American Club of Milwaukee, Margrethe Lodge #15, Wauwatosa, President) Audubon, IA Milwaukee, WI area WI area Main Street Market (Tracey Kenkel), Danish Archive North East (DANE), Danish Sisterhood Ellen Lodge #21, Panama, IA Edison, NJ Denver, CO area Marne Elk Horn Telephone Co., Elk Danish Brotherhood, Heartland Danish Sisterhood Lodge #102, Des Horn, IA District Lodges, Iowa-Minnesota & Moines, IA area Nelsen and Nelsen, Attorneys at Law, surrounding states Danish Sisterhood Flora Danica Cozad, NE Danish Brotherhood Lodge #1, Lodge #177, Solvang, CA The Norden Club of Lincoln, Lincoln, Omaha, NE area Danish Sisterhood Lodges, Heartland NE area Danish Brotherhood Lodge #15, Des District, Iowa-Minnesota & Northwest Danish Association, Moines, IA area surrounding states Seattle, WA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #16, Danish Sisterhood Lodges, Nebraska/ O & H Danish Bakery (Eric Olesen), Minden, NE area Colorado Districts, Lincoln, NE & Racine, WI Danish Brotherhood Lodge #29, Denver CO areas Olsen, Muhlbauer & Co., L.L.P., Seattle, WA area Den Danske Pioneer (Elsa Steffensen Carroll, IA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #35, & Linda Steffensen), Hoffman Oxen Technology, Harlan, IA Homewood, IL area Estates, IL Petersen Family Foundation, Inc. (H. Elk Horn Lutheran Church, Rand & Mary Louise Petersen), Elk Horn, IA Harlan, IA
Did you know? Families, groups, clubs, or businesses can sponsor exhibits, events, free admission days, our website, Brown Bag Lunch programs (including online videos for applicable presentations), or the whole Brown Bag Lunch series! Contact us to discuss the possibilities that await you: 712.764.7001 or [email protected].
44 Museum of Danish America Proongily (Cynthia McKeen), Ringsted Danish American Fellowship, Shelby County State Bank, Harlan St. Paul, MN Ringsted, IA area and Elk Horn, IA The Rasmussen Group, Inc. (Sandra Royal Danish Embassy, Symra Literary Society, Decorah, IA Rasmussen and Kurt & Lynette Washington, DC Upward Mobility (Susan Vitek), Rasmussen), Des Moines, IA Royal Danish Guard Society, Hinesburg, VT Rebild National Park Society, Chicago, IL area Vasa Order of America, Omaha Lodge Southern California Chapter, Los Scan Design Foundation, Seattle, WA #330, Omaha, NE Angeles, CA area Shelby County Historical Society & Red River Danes, Fargo, ND area Museum, Harlan, IA
new members August 1, 2018 – November 20, 2018
The Museum of Danish America Paul Jensen, Council Bluffs, IA Georgetown, TX is pleased to identify the following Colleen Johnson, Avalon, WI Janne Osborne, Austin, TX memberships: 78 individuals as its Janet Johnson, West Des Moines, IA Marjorie Parsell, East Tawas, MI Malcolm Johnson, Lapeer, MI Rennie & Marge Phillips, Scott newest members: John & Sheila Joyce, Prairie City, MO Jim & Nancy Barker, Freeport, IL Village, KS Erik Poulsen, Clinton Township, MI Dana Bovbjerg, Pittsburgh, PA Lone Kanaskie, Olney, MD Travis & Sandra Randolph, Leslie Brady, Papillion, NE Catherine Karlshoej, Roscoe, IL Saugatuck, MI Larry Chase, Fort Collins, CO Denis Kaufman, Bunker Hill, WV Julie Rasmussen, Exira, IA Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen, Beth Kershner, Tulsa, OK Robert & Dorothy Rosenbladt, Odense, Danmark Kim & Vicky Kirkegaard, Poulsbo, WA Vicki Croft, Clarkston, WA Middleton, WI Sandy Rosenbladt, Seattle, WA Sheryl Cuba, Omaha, NE Gary & Georganna Madsen, Cathy Weigley & Laurence Schiller, Governor Dennis & Mrs. Linda Des Moines, IA Deerfield, IL Daugaard, Pierre, SD Susan Martin, Scottsbluff, NE Gail Shaw, Stockbridge, MA Jenessa Denniston, Noblesville, IN Kari Seppanen & Vera Jo Sheetz, Houston, TX Annelise M. Dietz, North Martinovich, Lake Stevens, WA John & Mary Stanley, Ceresco, NE Chesterfield, AV Pamela Mattera, Ridgewood, NY Delane Vanada, Monument, CO Sharyn Hedbloom & Margaret Rita McClain, Clancy, MT Dale & Jane Vandre, Kalamazoo, MI Frimoth, Astoria, OR Charles Harry & Deborah Rod & Valerie Vaughn, David & Charlotte Gensler, McDonald, Columbia, SC Fort Thompson, SD Placitas, NM Fredrick McGee, Southbury, CT Paula Waters, Park Ridge, IL Lois Held, West Bend, WI Robert Meyer, Sr., Omaha, NE Steve & Susan Watts, Hinsdale, IL Tim & Cari Hush, Racine, WI Roger & Marilyn Mollet, Kris Wertz, Pekin, IL Eric Hvolboll, Goleta, CA Lakeville, MI Michele Hacherl & William Zucker, Robin Ingle, Gainesville, FL Mary O’Brien, Las Vegas, NV Tucson, AZ Jerimiah Jensen, Loveland, CO Terrence & Karolee Olsen,
America Letter 45 life after iowa It has been 10 years since their internships at our museum. Where are they now?
Hayley Chambers A few weeks after I arrived, the With the museum, I was also museum celebrated its 25th able to travel around the state for Instead of getting a full-time job anniversary, and it was an honor workshops and fun field trips to in 2008 after graduating with my to participate in that landmark other museums. We also traveled MA in Public History, I opted to event. For the bulk of my nine- to the state and regional museum be an intern for about a year. It month internship, I worked with conferences, where I was allowed me to apply the skills I Angela Stanford on a variety exposed to a wide professional had learned in school to real-life of inventory, cataloging, and network. The true value of the situations, and it gave me the rehousing projects. Angela internship, though, was living with freedom to travel. It is incredible instilled in me a love for several Danish interns and being to think that ten years ago I collections care, and I still strive exposed to a new culture. We arrived in Elk Horn, fresh from to live up to her example of spent many nights discussing the Alaska, where I had interned at organization and detail. I am lucky similarities and differences of our the Valdez Museum. Having lived enough to still count her as a world views. I still dream of one on the east coast most of my life friend and mentor today. day visiting Denmark and meeting up until then, the endless corn up with my fellow interns to see and soybean fields of Iowa were At small museums, employees what their lives are like there. a big change for me, and I thrived and interns wear many hats, and on the challenge. I was lucky enough to be able Since my internship, I have to help with exhibits, including traveled around the country helping to set up the Victor Borge working at the Kentucky Historical exhibit, education programs and Society in Frankfort, Deadwood tours, radio interviews, public History in South Dakota, Montana, speaking engagements, and every and Idaho. At present, I am the so often I would sneak away to Senior Curator of Collections for the LEGO table to make some Ketchikan Museums in Southeast kind of creation. I will never forget Alaska. Our organization has making 300 aebleskiver in one day two facilities: one that focuses for a holiday program! on local history and the other is geared towards celebrating local Native culture with a collection of original, 19th century totem poles. I am also in my fifth year as a board member for Museums Alaska, our state museum association. When I am not working, I spend time helping my boyfriend restore a 1920s-era machine shop and boathouse. I often think of my time in Iowa and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to intern at the museum.
46 Museum of Danish America Helle Hovmand- Many things have happened in Rasmussen the last 10 years - the museum’s name has changed, to start with. Ten years ago, I was an intern at On a personal note, I returned to the Danish Immigrant Museum for Copenhagen, finished my degree, half a year. Back then, I worked moved back to the southwestern with the curator of exhibits part of Denmark, got married, creating a temporary exhibition and had three wonderful children. about one of the most famous One thing recurs, however: I still Danish-Americans, Victor Borge, work with the interpretation of among many other things. Though famous Danish Americans, only the internship added many new this time it’s Jacob A. Riis. Next skills to my curriculum, it’s the year Sydvestjyske Museer will be people whom I met and the opening a new museum in Jacob cultural experiences they gave A. Riis’ childhood home in Ribe me that I remember clearly now, (pictured here), and by means of 10 years later: from summertime my current job as pedagogical barbecues to Thanksgiving and consultant in “MYRTHUE”, the Christmas which were spent in external learning environment in the welcoming homes of staff the municipality of Esbjerg, I am members; everyday life with contributing to the development an American roommate who of interpretational tours on Riis for broadened my perception of schoolchildren. American culture; and last, but not least, the many meetings with Danish Americans, practicing their cultural identity despite being separated by time, distance, and sometimes even generations from Denmark.
Koldskål This is a traditional Danish dish served in the summertime either as a dessert, breakfast, or even as a light dinner on a warm summer evening. Serve this refreshing dish cold with your choice of topping.
America Letter 47 christmas tree snowflake FREE TUTORIAL & PATTERN A special holiday papirklip project brought to you by the Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, Iowa. www.danishmuseum.org
The museum’s annual holiday card design for 2018 is based upon a shapeshifting 2D snowflake that transforms into a 3D Christmas tree full of magical creatures and decorations.
48 Museum of Danish America christmas tree snowflake How-To Design © proongily 2018, Cyntia McKeen
Paper For cutting the Christmas Tree Snowflake, use a thin, strong paper that creases well. This papirklip was cut from Thai unryu, a ‘rice paper’ that has a fine grain and that comes in large sheets. Other papers that can work well for folding and cutting include origami paper (not easily available in large sheets), Danish glanspapir (not as easy to find as it once was) and sheet gift wraps. Rolled gift papers seem to etainr their inclination to curl, but do often work well. Once you have a little experience, you will find that choosing papers for different designs becomes intuitive.
To cut this design with the intent of making a standing tree approximately 7” tall, start with a piece of paper 17” × 17” and increase the pattern size by 155%. Measure and cut paper exactly and crease sharp edges accurately for a good outcome.
Folding
See instruction diagrams on page 50. Folding in thirds, to produce 6 points, diverges from standard origami patterns, which is why I sketched those. The last step for this snowflake makes the design work as the tree.
Using the Pattern Cut out the appropriate pattern (black and white triangle) from page 51. Align the pattern on the folded paper and fasten it by stapling in the black areas. There are left-handed and right- handed versions of the pattern which can make the cutting process easier.
Cutting This can be cut with scissors or blades or both. Use whichever is more comfortable.
A Note from Cynthia: “Some people may be tempted to use a bit of glue to connect the nisser at the base, but then the tree loses the look of layers of shadows. I did use a bit of glue inside the treetop for stability and the tree stands well, as long as the creasing is sharp. The bottom branches curl a little, which I like, but if you want to prevent that, press the folded tree under something heavy until just before you set it up.”
America Letter 49 1. Begin with a 5. Fold the figure in half as shown. square sheet of paper. Fold in half and crease well (AB to CD).
2. Along the folded 6. Cut straight across from edge,begin to fold in H to I. You can cut out half again,but do not shapes along GH and GI. To complete the whole sharpen the points of your fold (G). G is the snowflake, use either H or center point of what I as those points and cut will become your back the other, as shown snowflake. with the wavy line.
7. Open sheet and re-crease the 6 diameter lines so that every other diameter line folds in the opposite direction. You will be creasing 3. Fold the double three long lines in one direction and three in sheet into thirds, the other. You should then be able to re-fold using G as the pivotal the snowflake, to find the ‘tree’ shape. point. (This can be difficult to judge at first -use the hexagon drawing as a guide.)
4. Fold EG back. Your sheet should look like this.
50 Museum of Danish America christmas tree snowflake PATTERNs Design © proongily 2018, Cyntia McKeen
America Letter 51 Non-Profit US Postage PAID SP&D 2212 washington street elk horn, ia 51531 change service requested
About the artist, design, etc. Inside Greeting includes white ribbon 02
Copyright (c) by proongilly back 2018 | 712.764.7001 | [email protected] danishmuseum.org Glædelig Jul 2212 washington street, elk horn, ia 51531 og Godt Nytår
01 2018P | roongily Papirklip
03 04 05
Order early – quantities are limited. 01. Museum of Danish America’s Annual Christmas Card 2018 Snowflake/Tree Papirklip, package of 10, #5885, $12; Individual card, #5886, $2 02. Museum of Danish America’s Annual Keepsake Ornament 2018 Sold out. 03. Nisser Maks & Sylvi, #5688, $60 (sold as set only) 04. Nisse Arne, #5676, $30 05. Nisse Nico the Reindeer, Item 5664, $20. Orders to 712-764-7001 or www.danishmuseum.org/shop. Members receive a 10% discount.